Does Fan Noise Matter for Video Lights?

[@TheChetOne]

Got this video in my recommended. Answered the question I had perfectly. Surprised this only has 160 views. Thanks for the information!

[@josephemmons8496]

That's awesome, I'm glad it helped. Thanks for watching

[@matthewojars]

Like others have said… I wonder why this video has such low view count. It’s got so much valuable information. Thank you. I was searching for a good light for my music studio and fell in love with the

[@kirtiman-sharma]

Great video. Calmed my heartbeat a lot after listening sound coming from my new light. Here's my question, since you are into the production profession and obviously have experience with different lights - The light I bought is Godox SL150W. This is not my first light. But this is my first light that belongs to a brand and has a single large LED light source. The lights I m used to are like a multi holder of LED bulbs and a rectangle softbox over it. These LED multi holders can hold up to 5 LED bulbs, 20W bulb x 5 makes it a 100W light, works perfectly, and has zero noise (coz there is no fan). Also, this light system in India where I live is at least 1/3 the cost of Godox SL150W if not 1/4 th the cost. The question is why use a single led light with a fan when there are other versions of light like the one I use? What is the benefit? If in my light one LED bulb fails, which almost never happens, but still, I can just change the build. While a Godox light might need expensive repairs which I might be able to do on my own. Are these single-led lights worth it? For youtube?? Thanks a lot, man, great video.

[@josephemmons8496]

Thanks for watching and for taking the ti e to comment. In my opinion there are a couple of differences when working with what people call COB or Chip On Board lights like the one you are talking about from Godox. First is that it is a harder light source, meaning that the physical source of light is smaller. This allows it to cast harder shadows and be modified in a lot of ways that a softer, tube light can't be. It also has that Bowens mount on the front which allows the use of softboxes, beauty dishes, reflectors and all kinds of other accessories to shape and control the light. I'm guessing those factors are part of what determine that price difference. Also, it should be dimmable, which is also a benefit over most florescent fixtures. I wouldn't sweat burning out the SL150w either. I've used 2 of them in my job for the last 4 years without issue. Those chips should last you a long time. I hope that helps.

[@Dano-Media]

When shooting corporate gigs at an office, the noise from the AC/people in near by offices/sirens & cars outside are way worse than any fan noise I've heard from a light. At least the fan noises in general tend to be consistent in their hiss, so it makes it easy to denoise them in post.

[@josephemmons8496]

I agree with that 100% Thanks for watching

[@Mariosenda]

Thank you very much from the canary islands, Spain. Super good video.

[@josephemmons8496]

So glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching.

[@MaskedMarble]

Thanks for your perspective. First question: What mic are you using in these tests? Second question: You mentioned the possibility of upgrading to lights with quieter fans. Can you recommend how to find fan noise specs for cob lights? Or apples-to-apples comparisons? By the way, I purchased a couple GVM combo bicolor + RGB cob lights (GVM-PR150R) which come with globe diffusers, and the fan's vibration literally causes the globe diffusers to sing. They literally hum like a tuning fork. Not loudly, but if you're next to the globes you hear the hum. So it's not just the fan noise, but also the vibration hum which the globe creates and amplifies like a guitar body.

[@josephemmons8496]

Thanks for taking time to reach out. To be clear, I didn't do a very scientific test on these, I simply recorded my dialogue and then some quiet ambient room tone and listened back to hear the difference by ear. I believe I was using my MOVO VXR10 for this. If you have fan noise concerns on a specific light, I would simply recommend searching for some reviews on KZbin to see if anyone gets into it. Even if they don't speak to it specifically if they are filming with the light and you can or can't hear the fan in there final project that will be telling as well. I haven't used the PR150R lights, but that's a bummer that they rattle the diffusers like that. The unfortunate reality is that there are always compromises made to get lights and equipment to price points like these. If possible though, you can often find ways to work around them. For example maybe you can leave the diffusor domes off and use a white piece of foam core or a white wall as a bounce. Thus eliminating the rattle but still getting soft light. Thanks for watching.

[@thinkwithabhay]

Really valuable video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@josephemmons8496]

Thanks so much for watching

[@MensGroup]

This is VERY helpful. Thanks!

[@josephemmons8496]

Thanks for watching

[@troywalt4834]

To be 100 per cent honest with you, is your fan noise unbearable? maybe not, but for a professional video i would say it's definitely problematic

[@josephemmons8496]

I suppose it maybe could be. But in 99% of cases my professional work has never called for a light to be close enough to a microphone for that to matter. In the rare instance that it is in close proximity I'm generally not capturing sound anyway. That's been my working experience at least for the last 12 years. I think the concern with fan noise has mostly been born out of online product reviews. Again, just my opinion. Thanks for watching and taking time to chat. I do agree that delivering the best product for your clients is key ❤️

[@ozguruysal7459]

I have a godox litemons la200d and although it's quite silent, its sound disturbs me.

[@josephemmons8496]

I totally get that. To some degree I think fan noise comes down to what is acceptable to you and your clients. I've had reliability issues with lights over the years that have made me not trust/use them anymore for that reason too. Thanks for watching

[@VsevolodZhovtenko]

Why this important video has such low view count. KZbin is bizarre.

[@josephemmons8496]

Thanks for watching

[@push.6901]

Why would you use a deadcat on the mic indoors?

[@josephemmons8496]

The only real reason would be if you're speaking close to the mic, it would help cut down on plosives...much like a pop filter. If you're asking why I have it on here, the answer is likely that it was on the mic to begin with and I simply didn't remove it. 😂

[@tvnathreviews]

Is there a trick to remove fan noise in the post production?

[@josephemmons8496]

If it is noticeable enough to bother you or a client in your final mix then here is what I would do. Go into your audio editor and select a section of audio that is just isolated fan noise. Create a noise reduction print of that. Then apply that across all dialogue tracks with the offending noise. Tweak the settings until you're happy. That process is for adobe audition, but most audio editing programs have a similar process. Thanks for watching.

[@tvnathreviews]

@@josephemmons8496 Thanks. Usually I record audio in Logic Pro, and edit videos in Final Cut. Should check whether they have a similar trick.

[@josephemmons8496]

@@tvnathreviews I am sure Logic would have a noise reduction plugin somewhere. You may just have to dig up a tutorial in that software. Good luck!